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INPEX operated Ichthys LNG to export 11 cargoes a month in 2023

Japanese major INPEX operated Ichthys LNG in Australia plans to export 11 cargoes a month during 2023. Export target indicates a sharp rise compared to 2022. Last year company had exported 112 cargoes compared to the target of 132 cargoes, set for the current year.

INPEX had taken an unplanned shutdown at the beginning of the year in January which had forced the company to reschedule its sell tender for a February cargo and reschedule some of the long-term LNG supply to its long term buyers in Japan. INPEX has no large-scale shutdown planned for the current year. Apart from January first week unplanned shutdown of the project, INPEX has planned shutdown of the facility only for 10 days during 2023.  

INPEX is the operator of the project with 66.24% equity stake whereas TotalEnergies has 26% stake in the Ichthys LNG project.  

INPEX is planning to expand the capacity to 9.3mil mt/year by way of debottlenecking the plant by upgrading cooling systems for liquification and taking measures against vibration. Expansion of the Ichthys LNG project capacity by 0.4mil mt/year will help company to export more LNG in 2023.

INPEX will also accelerate participation in exploration assets and discovered assets in the vicinity of the Ichthys Field with a view to expand Ichthys LNG and ensure a sustained production volume over the long term. Its aim is to further increase the natural gas production volume with a view to expand Ichthys LNG in around 2030.

editor@lngworldwide.com